The first quarter of the year is gradually coming to an end. However, a lot of people are still struggling to own a house. Some have ‘all it takes’ to own a nice home nevertheless, the access to their new home is literally limited by ignorance. Are you ready to become a house owner? Do you want to liberate yourself from ignorance? This article was written with the best interest of potential house owners at heart. We’ve assembled the best mortgage calculating models, hints and steps. Just take a deep breath and keep reading!

5 things you need to prepare before calculating your mortgage

Evaluate your credit score

Your credit score is your financial reputation. The higher your credit score, the higher the rates you’ll get. Before asking “how much mortgage can I get?”, you need to request for your credit reports. There are three basic credit reports, namely; Equifax, Experian and Transunion. As authorized by the US government, these three reports are available at www.annualcreditreport.com. You have the right to demand free copies of your credit reports every 12 months.

Study and compare mortgage rates

This is where the hard-work lies. If you want the best rate, then, you’ve got to search for it. You can do this by reaching out to banks, mortgage firms, loan brokers and credit unions. Make sure you direct your queries to the appropriate quarters and present your financial reports, when necessary. Comparing various mortgage rates would give you an edge while negotiating and this would also help you identify the hidden extra costs.

Discuss your loan options with your loan officer

Most loan officers are always receptive. Walk up to your loan officer and make inquiries, as regards to your loan options. Work together with the loan officer to determine relevant data, like— down payment criteria, contents of a mortgage payment, special programs for certain segments of borrowers and locations, processing & underwriting sequences and timeline expectations.

Get a reputable real estate agent

The United States is filled with a lot of real estate agents. Getting a real estate agent is quite easy but make sure the agent is reputable and well-established. A good agent would help you get the house of your dreams with no stress.

Apply for pre-approval

Once you’ve got your credit score in good shape, all you need to do is apply for a pre-approval. Contact your loan provider for the necessary documents needed for a pre-approval. After getting your docs set, the next move is to go for an official underwriting. This process can only be initiated, if you’ve found a house of your choice.

How to calculate your mortgage

Before we can answer the question “how much would my mortgage be?”, we must firstly, understand the core basis of mortgage calculations. It all depends on your income, current debt, savings and expenses. What is affordable to Mr A. isn’t applicable to Mrs B. That’s the major reason we recommend house budgeting for people who want to proceed with the home-purchasing process. There are two ways of determining house affordability; the 36% rule and the popular rule of thumb.

36% rule

This rule is tested and trusted. The 36% rule states that no one should spend more than 30% of their gross income on any form of debt; for instance— home loan, credit cards, student loans, home insurance, medical bills and others. It’s not advisable to apply for a home loan that’s higher than your budget. There could be any emergency, at any time; do not plunge yourself into modern-day slavery.

Rule of thumb

The rule of thumb states that all home buyers are expected to add three months of their housing payments and their monthly expenses. After adding your monthly debts and housing payments, the total value shouldn’t exceed 36% of your gross income.

Calculate the Cost

Use a calculator to determine your mortgage via this link https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/mortgages/new-house-calculator.asp. Input all the necessary figures into the calculator and it will display a budget value of how much home you can afford, according to your income, down payment and other expenses.

Final thoughts

We hope you’ve learned the essentials of mortgage application, the two rules for calculating your mortgage affordability and the necessary tools needed to estimate your mortgage cost. Thanks for reading.

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